.png)
Frameworks, core principles and top case studies for SaaS pricing, learnt and refined over 28+ years of SaaS-monetization experience.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
In the competitive landscape of product analytics, Mixpanel and Amplitude stand as two leading solutions helping companies understand user behavior and drive product decisions. If you're evaluating these platforms, pricing likely factors significantly into your decision-making process. Let's explore how these two product analytics giants structure their pricing models, what you get at different tiers, and which might offer better value for your specific needs.
The Basics of Product Analytics Pricing Models
Before diving into specific platforms, it's important to understand how product analytics tools typically structure their pricing. Most follow one of these models:
- Event-based pricing: Charges based on the number of user actions or "events" tracked
- Monthly tracked user (MTU) pricing: Costs scale with the number of unique users you track
- Hybrid models: Combines both events and users with various caps and tiers
- Feature-based tiers: Unlocks more advanced functionality at higher price points
Both Mixpanel and Amplitude utilize elements of these models, but with important distinctions.
Mixpanel Pricing: Flexibility with Event-Based Options
Mixpanel's pricing structure focuses primarily on events tracked while incorporating tier-based feature access.
Free Plan
- Cost: $0
- Events: Up to 100,000 monthly tracked events
- Data history: 90 days
- Users: Unlimited team seats
- Features: Basic reporting, real-time data, and limited data retention
Growth Plan
- Cost: Starting at $25/month (billed annually)
- Events: 1 million monthly events, with additional events available for purchase
- Data history: Up to 1 year
- Features: Advanced user profiling, group analytics, and A/B testing capabilities
Enterprise Plan
- Cost: Custom pricing
- Events: Customizable volume
- Data history: Unlimited
- Features: Role-based access control, premium support, single sign-on, and advanced security features
Mixpanel's approach gives smaller companies and startups an accessible entry point with its generous free tier, while providing scalability for growing organizations.
Amplitude Pricing: User-Centric Analytics Model
Amplitude takes a slightly different approach, basing its pricing primarily on monthly tracked users (MTUs) while still incorporating event limits.
Free Plan (Starter)
- Cost: $0
- Monthly tracked users: Up to 10 million events on up to 1 million MTUs
- Data history: 13 months
- Team members: Up to 2 team members
- Features: Basic reporting, cohort analysis, and user journeys
Growth Plan
- Cost: Starting around $995/month (billed annually)
- Monthly tracked users: Custom volumes
- Features: Advanced segmentation, custom user properties, behavioral cohorts, and unlimited team seats
Enterprise Plan
- Cost: Custom pricing
- Features: Advanced security, dedicated support, custom data retention, single sign-on, and premium integrations
Amplitude's pricing focuses more heavily on the scale of users being tracked, making it potentially more predictable for companies with stable user bases but variable event volumes.
Key Pricing Differentiators Between Mixpanel and Amplitude
When comparing product analytics pricing models, several factors stand out:
1. Event vs. User-Based Pricing
Mixpanel's event-based pricing can be advantageous if:
- You have a smaller number of high-activity users
- Your analytics needs focus on tracking many different actions from a limited user base
- Your product has complex user journeys with many interactions to monitor
Amplitude's user-based pricing might be better if:
- You have a large user base with relatively consistent activity patterns
- You want more predictable costs as your user base grows
- You value longer data retention periods even at lower tiers
2. Free Tier Comparisons
For startups and smaller companies, the free tiers differ significantly:
- Mixpanel: Offers more team seats but fewer events and shorter data retention
- Amplitude: Provides generous event limits and longer data retention but restricts team access
3. Enterprise Features and Support
At the enterprise level, pricing becomes more comparable, with differences primarily in:
- Implementation support: Amplitude typically offers more comprehensive onboarding
- Data governance: Both offer enterprise-grade security, but with different approaches to user permissions
- Integration capabilities: Each platform has different strengths in connecting with other tools
Hidden Costs in Behavioral Analytics Pricing
When budgeting for product analytics, be aware of these potential hidden costs:
- Data volume surprises: As your product grows, event-based pricing can lead to unexpected cost increases
- Implementation resources: Both platforms require technical setup that may involve developer time
- Training and adoption: Consider the learning curve and internal training needs
- Data storage costs: Long-term data retention often incurs additional fees
- API usage fees: Extensive use of APIs for custom integrations may trigger additional costs
Making the Right Decision for Your Analytics Budget
When choosing between Mixpanel and Amplitude based on pricing, consider these factors:
Assess Your Analytics Maturity
- Early-stage: Mixpanel's free tier offers good functionality for teams just starting with analytics
- Growth-stage: Amplitude's longer data retention may provide better historical analysis as you scale
- Enterprise: Compare specific feature sets against your advanced needs rather than focusing solely on cost
Calculate Your Specific Usage Pattern
Understanding your typical usage helps predict actual costs:
- How many monthly active users do you have?
- How many events do you need to track per user?
- How many team members need access to analytics?
Consider Future Scaling Needs
- Sudden growth spikes: How will costs change if your user base doubles?
- Seasonal fluctuations: Will seasonal usage patterns affect your billing?
- Long-term data needs: How valuable is historical data for your business?
Conclusion: Beyond the Price Tag
While pricing is important, the ultimate value of product analytics comes from how effectively you can turn data into actionable insights. Both Mixpanel and Amplitude offer sophisticated user analytics capabilities that, when properly implemented, should generate ROI that far exceeds their costs.
For most companies, the decision should consider:
- Your current analytics needs and budget constraints
- How well each platform's strengths align with your specific use cases
- The total cost of ownership including implementation and maintenance
- How each platform's pricing model matches your growth trajectory
Whether you choose Mixpanel's event-focused approach or Amplitude's user-centric model, investing in robust product analytics remains one of the most effective ways to build products that truly meet user needs and drive business growth.